the skiers are used to the technology. havesay they're pleased to snow. one says it is not as good as the real thing. he says he sometimes worries about the environmental impact, but it is good to have the snow. winter sports and tourism are an economic mainstay of this part of germany. many jobs depend on good snow conditions. the area has to compete with larger ski resorts just across the border in austria. keeping the slopes of the white costs about 1 billion euros a season. -- 1 million euros a season. gonethe day-trippers' have home and the temperature 6, it is time to turn on the snow cannons. they are fed by reservoirs' with pumping stations. the cannons are located on the side of the peaks. he explains how the public pressure has to reach a certain level. when the pressure is high enough, he can switch them on. the systems as one of the artificial snow machines appears to have broken down. he will have to go and fix it. he takes along. -- he takes me along. the men have to be able to deal with all kinds of problems with the palms and electronic sy